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This year I plan to not get stressed out. How, you ask? By simply not flapping!
When I returned to school this fall, I sighed as I realized t
hat I would be once again entering the stressful environment of deadlines, deadbeats and feeling dead tired. It’s been the same routine with ever-increasing amounts of work—for 16 years now.
Okay, here’s my plan for less stress. When facing major stressors, I am resolved to remember that the Bible tells us:
“He [God] gives strength to those who grow tired and increases the strength of those who are weak… the strength of those who wait with hope in the Lord will be renewed. They will soar on wings like eagles” (Isaiah 40:29, 31; God’s Word Translation, emphasis added).
When we trust in and wait on the Lord, we can know that He will take care of all our needs. God through the eloquent Isaiah tells us that we will then rise up and soar like eagles.
Why is this particular analogy used? Consider that birds fly in one of three ways: constantly flapping, gliding or soaring.
Flapping
Many smaller birds travel in this fashion. Though hummingbirds do this seemingly gracefully, flapping is usually a lot of work that doesn’t get them that far. Since the bird constantly has to work, it tires more easily and can only fly relatively short distances.
Gliding
Medium-sized birds like pheasants or grouse can work at flapping until they get high enough to glide for a while—gracefully drifting downward for brief periods. Eventually, unless they start flapping again, they would glide straight into the ground. This is better than always flapping, but is there something even better?
Soaring
A few birds, like the eagle, are able to truly soar. This is because the eagle’s wings are large and powerful enough to catch the vertical columns of air (called thermals) shooting straight up from the earth in some places. Eagles can boost themselves up very high, floating from air column to air column without flapping much at all. These birds essentially glide downward on a constantly rising current of air.
This applies to our lives as well. When I stress out, I feel like a bird flapping with all my might, but not really getting anywhere. How we live life and how we trust in God for our daily needs and wants is analogous to how these birds fly!
Flap
Often we just flap and flap in life at school, home or work, trying to get ourselves in flight. Sometimes we do get airborne, but we exhaust ourselves from the stress.
Glide
We can work toward our moments of grace and epiphanies, but if we get too comfortable with our own accomplishments, we will plummet into the ground thinking we’ve got plenty of air left through which to glide.
Soar
This is the ideal! When we soar, we don’t have to worry about flapping or fear the lack of space to glide—we just comfortably float above our trials and fears, trusting God to keep the wind under our wings!
By waiting with hope on God to help us, we soar like eagles with renewed and increased strength physically, emotionally and especially spiritually. All of that translates into less negative stress in our lives. Imagine that, less “flapping” means less stress!
To learn more about dealing maturely with stress in your life, read “Maturity—Coming Soon to a Mind Near You.” VT
- About the Author -
Corbin Rose, a graduate of Ambassador Bible Center, is currently finishing up a degree in graphic design in Michigan.
Do you ever dream of being rich and famous? You’re definitely not alone.
A Pew Research Center Poll of 18- to 25-year olds found that 81 percent said the most important or second most important life goal of their generation is getting rich and 51 percent said the same about being famous (USA Today).
Since wealth and fame don’t guarantee happiness, why is it such a focus?
Our society idolizes celebrities—from actors and music stars to athletes. The permeating attitude is “if you’ve got it – flaunt it.” And cameras are always there to capture the moments and build the hype!
In fact with video-posting sites like YouTube, young people can be “celebrities” in their own worlds (USA Today). Although many postings are harmless, more and more young people seek fame and attention through crazy stunts, provocative poses or violence.
Of course, it’s not all bad. You may be planning your fame and fortune through honest hard work, and trying to be successful in life is a great goal. But how we define success is very important.
Whom am I trying to impress?
Billions of dollars are spent every year creating pop culture and marketing the idea that our self-worth and success depend on what stuff we have. Consumer psychologist Kit Yarrow of Golden Gate University in San Francisco says that young people are “putting their resources and energy and validation and self-worth into what people who aren’t close to them think of them, which is fame” (USA Today).
Wanting to be liked by others is not wrong. So how far should we go to impress and grab the attention of others without destroying our future?
Spending money we don’t have to get the latest and greatest leads to cumbersome debt. Impulsive moments and “famous” Web postings have ruined many young adults’ chances of getting into their desired college or that sweet job—or worse yet, have resulted in physical harm or criminal charges.
The abundant life
Amazingly Jesus Christ said, “I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly” (John 10:10).
To strike the right balance between fitting in and finding the path to future success, seek to impress God first. As the divine Father of us all, He wants our happiness.
We were born to fulfill a great purpose—to be sons and daughters in God’s family with awesome potential now and for eternity. Check out What Is Your Destiny? for more details.
Priceless success
“It’s cliché but true. Money can’t buy you love or happiness,” writes Erin Burt in an article on Kiplinger about young, prosperous and frugal millionaires. She summarizes, “It’s the things that money cannot buy that best define your life.”
These 20- and 30-year-old millionaires are a type of “anti-Paris Hilton” who avoid excess and embrace modesty. “They use their money for good causes instead of for their own glory” (Kiplinger).
How refreshing to hear about successes where individuals have a more balanced perspective on money and simple living. It’s such a contrast to the unhappiness and broken lives that the usual approach to wealth and fame can bring.
God gives us His guidebook, the Bible, with principles of living a fulfilling, happy life. He is, of course, more concerned about our spiritual abundance: living with a purpose and outgoing concern for others, having hope and peace. But He also desires for us to have a physically abundant life too.
For some practical tips on success, read a recent Vertical News special “So…do you want to succeed?” VT
- About the Author -
Keri Sanders, her husband, Adam, and three young daughters attend the United Church of God in Columbus, Ohio.
